From red, itchy eyes to stuffy, runny nose, the symptoms of seasonal allergies are no picnic. Ragweed is the most common seasonal allergen, but grasses and trees, as well as mold growing on dead leaves, can also be the culprit. Depending on the season and area, pollens and spores of various kinds are carried on the wind and trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
Fortunately, for the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies, natural remedies are available to help ease those pesky symptoms. The herb was comparable to drugs, without side effects.
One emerging winner in the alternative arsenal against allergies is butterbur. Japanese researchers who looked at the effect of butterbur on rats and cell cultures concluded that it may be effective in suppressing Type 1 allergic reactions, which in humans include hay fever symptoms such as sniffling, sneezing and itchy eyes.
Meanwhile, Swiss researchers put butterbur to the test. They randomized 125 hay fever sufferers to receive either butterbur tablets four times daily for two weeks, or one tablet of antihistamine plus three identical-looking placebo tablets daily for the same time period. The people who took butterbur experienced an alleviation of symptoms comparable to the other group but with far less likelihood of drowsiness and fatigue. Butterbur "should be considered for hay fever relief when the sedating effects of antihistamines must be avoided," the researchers concluded.
Here are other natural remedies for seasonal allergies:
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): In a German study of about 570 adults, high levels of ALA in the diet were associated with a reduced risk of allergic reaction. ALA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, is highly concentrated in certain plant oils including flaxseed oil and, to a lesser extent, canola, soy and walnut oils.
- Quercetin:
This flavonoid has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. A number of studies back quercetin up as one of the most important supplements for allergy season. Studies show that quercetin inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells. Less histamine means less itchy, watery eyes and nose – and that’s great news for any hay fever sufferer! Some studies also suggest that the combination of vitamin C and quercetin works even better than quercetin alone. - Homeopathics: There are a number of remedies and combination products available for dealing with hay fever. Here are some common options:
- Allium cepa: for streaming eyes and nose with sneezing worse when in a warm room
- Arsenicum album: for eyes sensitive to light, feeling worn out and sneezing
- Gelsemium: for bouts of sneezing, when tears feel hot and burn eyelids and there is profuse watery nasal discharge.
Sources: J Agric Food Chem, 2006; 54(8): 2915-20; Brit Med Jour, 2005 Jan;324: 1-4 & 144; Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;59(9):1071-80; Earl Mindell’s Supplement Bible by E Mindell, Fireside: 1998
